Major Infrastructure Overhaul Reshapes Morocco’s Marrakech-Safi Region

In response to a written question addressed by the parliamentary group of the Popular Movement (MP), Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, said that his department has undertaken a series of ambitious projects in the equipment sector, with a particular focus on the development of road and highway infrastructure, which is an essential pillar for the regional economy. Today, the Marrakech-Safi region has a classified and paved road network with a total length of 5,697 kilometers, of which 61.20% are in a medium to good condition. This network is divided into several categories, namely 1,353 kilometers of national roads, 1,110 kilometers of regional roads and 3,234 kilometers of provincial roads, he specified.

Baraka’s department has attached importance to the maintenance and upkeep of this network, as well as its continuous development, in order to meet the economic and social needs of users. A substantial budget of nearly 646 million dirhams has been devoted to the development of road infrastructure, resulting in the realization of 82 projects for a total of 1,044 kilometers, accompanied by 15 engineering structures over the period from 2021 to 2023.

As for the specific investments? The minister mentions an allocation of 488 MDH for the maintenance and adaptation of the road network, allowing the development of 343 kilometers. 56 MDH have been allocated to the improvement of rural tracks, facilitating access to 73 kilometers of roads, while 51 MDH have been devoted to the construction and maintenance of engineering structures, allowing the creation of 9 new structures and the maintenance of six others. Regarding climate challenges, 17 MDH have been devoted to repairing damage caused by floods on 53 kilometers of roads. As for the specific programs dedicated to road safety development, 21 MDH have been mobilized for interventions on 24 kilometers, and 13 MDH have been invested in road signs, ensuring safety on 553 kilometers of roads.

Currently, 36 road projects are underway, covering 691 kilometers of roads and 7 engineering structures, for a total cost of 592 MDH, including 70 MDH for the regional development program, allocated to the development of 9 kilometers of roads, and 370 MDH devoted to the maintenance and adaptation of the road network on 205 kilometers. Several other projects have also been implemented this year, including the construction, maintenance and repair of 1,473 kilometers of roads, as well as 16 engineering structures, with a total budget estimated at 722 MDH. This financing is broken down into 114 MDH for the regional development program (73 kilometers), 417 MDH for the maintenance and adaptation of the road network (324 kilometers), 102 MDH for the construction and maintenance of 13 engineering structures, 27 MDH for the repair of damage on 61 kilometers and the construction of 3 structures, 29 MDH for 7 road safety interventions on 20 kilometers, and finally 33 MDH for signage on 1,265 kilometers, detailed the minister.

The highway sector is also experiencing rapid expansion. This is evidenced by the launch in 2017 by the National Motorway Company of Morocco (ADM) of a comprehensive transformation plan aimed at modernizing and optimizing the operation of the motorway network. The "period from 2021 to 2024 has been marked by road maintenance work and the construction of pedestrian bridges, focused on the Marrakech-Safi region," the minister further reports. This includes the rehabilitation and expansion of toll stations along the highways connecting Casablanca and Marrakech, integrating a new toll system to streamline traffic at one of the largest road intersections in the kingdom, pavement strengthening work on the Marrakech-Agadir highway, essential to preserve the infrastructure and improve the safety and comfort of users, as well as the rehabilitation of the Benguerir service station, at kilometer PK154 of the Casablanca-Agadir highway...